Not trying to be a D-Bag with this post but I want posters that are commenting on Arizona's 8 - 9 men in the box stuff to know that they really should watch the game tape before posting.
I have watched the game slowing down every play to analyze alignments and point of failure(s) from the time the game came on ESPN. When the game came on Iowa had just gone down 14 - 0. The vast majority of Arizona's defensive alignments were 4 - 3 base alignments with the backers 3-4 yards deep. I noticed a single 8 man box alignment and 1 9 man front (Arizona goal-line D). They aligned a few times in a 5 - 2. I also noted only 1 blitz on a passing situation. The LB's were biting hard at times on play action. On almost all pass plays Arizona used a 4 man rush and dropped 7 into coverage just like we do.
Here's what I came away from the first half;
- Lack of execution (we had a number of chances to make plays but missed on many)
..... Stanzi was high or off target on several balls, the receivers dropped a few including a sure TD and Robinson did not make the correct read on several runs (missing at least one great running lane)
- The Arizona D-Ends were getting great push up the field. The O-Line did not play as poorly as I thought (confirming John's comments) but there were a number of stalemates so we did not get much push either.
So far it looks like a total team loss when you throw in special teams rather than an individual player or coaching (that assertion was ridiculous).
I'll watch the second half and post (not that anyone cares
) when I get a chance.