Why is our defense so horrible??
- Thread starter WatHawk
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BSpringsteen
Well-Known Member
There is a clear blue print to beat us. Throw underneath the zone and you can not lose if you keep this mantra all game.
HawkeyeNTexas
Well-Known Member
Mentally they aren't in it. Not sure why or how that changed towards the end of the season. Doesn't make sense.
TheNebraskaHawk
Well-Known Member
The question of the season...I think all Hawk fans would like to know the answer!
bamahawkeye
Well-Known Member
I think there is a blueprint to beat us, but you have to have a QB who is patient, experienced, accurate and can use his legs. He has to be able to do the majority of those things, if not all.
We've been beat 4 times this year by those type of QB's.
I firmly believe the defense isn't horrible. But Edds and Angerer were very, VERY good LB's. Nielsen and Tarp were good replacements, but neither have the ability or more importantly, the leadership those 2 did. I for one did not see how important Edds and Angerer were to the defense until the middle of this year. Our LB's just don't have the experience in this defense yet. We are young, inexperienced, and quite frankly, overmatched. And we've been exploited in this area for the majority of the year.
With that being said, I am still disappointed the defense isn't making more plays. There is still plenty of talent on that side of the ball.
We've been beat 4 times this year by those type of QB's.
I firmly believe the defense isn't horrible. But Edds and Angerer were very, VERY good LB's. Nielsen and Tarp were good replacements, but neither have the ability or more importantly, the leadership those 2 did. I for one did not see how important Edds and Angerer were to the defense until the middle of this year. Our LB's just don't have the experience in this defense yet. We are young, inexperienced, and quite frankly, overmatched. And we've been exploited in this area for the majority of the year.
With that being said, I am still disappointed the defense isn't making more plays. There is still plenty of talent on that side of the ball.
Personally, I think Norm's abscence has meant more than any of us realize.
While Norm played everything pretty close to the vest, this year we seem to be even a bit more vanilla in our schemes than before.
Edds and Angerer are also a big part of the answer. Tarp and Nielsen are good players but Edds and Angerer are both on NFL rosters. That is a lot of talent we may not have realized was as good as it truly was.
While Norm played everything pretty close to the vest, this year we seem to be even a bit more vanilla in our schemes than before.
Edds and Angerer are also a big part of the answer. Tarp and Nielsen are good players but Edds and Angerer are both on NFL rosters. That is a lot of talent we may not have realized was as good as it truly was.
HawkeyeNTexas
Well-Known Member
we are fine at LB. That isn't the problem. Secondary and this "underachieving" def line is the problem.
bamahawkeye
Well-Known Member
I'm not a coach, and have no insight, but just looking at the starting lineup a year ago and today, I would say the revolving door at LB has been a HUGE problem. Morris should be a good one, and Nielsen too. But Troy Johnson, isn't starting for anybody else in this league. Neither is Dibona, Morris or Tillison this year.
I'm not saying the Dline or secondary has played great this year, but if you think LB hasn't been a problem, that is a shocking statement.
hawks263344
Well-Known Member
It is unbelievably simple! Teams know what play(s) we are going to run. Teams have finally figured out that yes you can keep runing the same stuff over and over to beat us. They don't need to get away from stuff to avoid going to the well one too many times. Teams are finally patient enough to just march down the field on us. Today We just aren't mentally or emotionally in it. This is also a side effect of the other teams knowing exactly how to beat us and our guys being frustrated about it.
Teams use to not be willing to do this. We kept beating Purdue (and anybody else who attacked us in the same way) mid decade because we would get a turn over every time they went away from what would work. Otherwise they marched down our throats all day long. Teams are finally smart enough to just keep doing what you know will work.
This is a huge reason why we need a new staff. We WILL NEVER be a great defense again untill we make changes because of this. Our opponents would have to go stupid for our defense to work against them again.
Whoever thinks that we don't have the talent is an ABSOLUTE MORON! We have what three guys starting on defense that will not play in the NFL. Some people think we have the best DL. Our safety duo is one of the best. This is one of the deepest group of corners we have ever had. We do have new LB's but we have seniors and lots of athleticism there. They certainly aren't bad players. It certainly isn't ther fault they are being asked to cover guys they can't physically cover. Putting your guys in position to fail is dumb coaching.
shonblatt
Well-Known Member
Several reasons...
1. Norm's loss can't be understated. Iowa as a team usually improves and clamps down more and more as the season progresses. This has not happened this year.
1a. A corollary to Norm's reduced availability has resulted in what I think is a strategy that's even MORE conservative than it normally is. Norm likes to stay base most of the time, but he would throw in a blitz or some new look often enough to throw the other team off it's rhythm. We're hardly doing that at all this year.
2. Graduation losses have hurt more than expected.
3. Injuries to key LB have forced us to play undersized and less experienced players. I believe Morris will be an all-timer before he graduates, but he's not there yet in terms of dominating the action.
4. Close losses have clearly impacted the teams confidence and aggressiveness with games on the line.
1. Norm's loss can't be understated. Iowa as a team usually improves and clamps down more and more as the season progresses. This has not happened this year.
1a. A corollary to Norm's reduced availability has resulted in what I think is a strategy that's even MORE conservative than it normally is. Norm likes to stay base most of the time, but he would throw in a blitz or some new look often enough to throw the other team off it's rhythm. We're hardly doing that at all this year.
2. Graduation losses have hurt more than expected.
3. Injuries to key LB have forced us to play undersized and less experienced players. I believe Morris will be an all-timer before he graduates, but he's not there yet in terms of dominating the action.
4. Close losses have clearly impacted the teams confidence and aggressiveness with games on the line.
