You are an Iowa State fan but you would be disappointed if Iowa doesn't compete for a Big Ten postseason title?
How far can Iowa go?
- Thread starter besserheimerphat
- Start date
The line has been moving in Michigan's direction the last day or two.
I really like the over 50.
Strategically and schematically, all three phases complement each other all the time.
What I'm saying is over a period of time - let's say 5 years - the performance of offense/defense/special teams will be normally distributed. They have an average performance with some year-to-year variation. In a given season, getting 90th percentile performance from 2 or more units is rare ("lucky"). That would only happen 1% of the time. Again I'm just throwing out numbers as examples - I have no idea where this Iowa defense/special teams rate.
It's not lucky to have consistently high performing defense and special teams - that is a credit to the staff and the program. But to get historically good performance from multiple units in the same season is the luck part. Which is typically what it takes for anyone outside the blue blood schools to win a championship. That doesn't mean the results aren't deserved. It doesn't take away from the accomplishments of the team. It seems like Iowa is getting that historically good performance from defense and special teams this season. Their offense is probably average or slightly below average for them, and yet they are winning big.
That's why I originally posted the thread: is it enough to take them to historic results this year? Through the first two games I thought it wasn't. There weren't enough games to think Iowa was actually having a historic year. But they've kept it up, and I'm revising my opinion. I think it’s absolutely realistic for them to make the CFP this year. I still think the offense could be a big enough liability against other elite teams to keep them from winning it, but at this point I think this is a conference champion and playoff team.
They won't. Schedule after Saturday is softer than my middle schooler's.
I agree with a lot of what you've said here. We may learn more about the offense this weekend when it could be asked to do more at some point against what appears to be a very good defense. At some point they are going to have to be able to run the ball and milk the clock to preserve a lead late in a game and I'm not sure they can. Great teams can do that even when the defense knows its coming.
Its not like EIU is running some super secret defense with 5 star athletes all over the field. They have played 5 games, all on film, its the same as its been the past couple of years.
So it safe to say that Campbell and Purdy know what EIU is going to do on defense against ISU, now whether or not Manning can come up with a game plan to defeat it is still in question. Maybe he just needs to watch EIU/NW games, it will show exactly how to beat it. And they do it repeatedly with worse athletes than Iowa State is fielding this year.
Iowa’s much more athletic overall than ISU. They’re deeper with athletes at almost every position. Iowa’s also a much younger team and there’s a reason why guys like Kolar, Eisworth and Allen all came back.
Have you watched any Iowa/NW games recently? Over the last decade, Iowa has struggled with Northwestern because of NW’s defense. NW’s offense, more often than not, has been putrid.
Could you be any more insecure about your lack of knowledge?
Go back to your hawk boards and bask in your glory
Final scores of the games.
NW EIU
20 21 20
19 0 20
18 14 10
17 17 10
16 38 31.
So it looks like NW is playing ball control, using the short passing game and scoring enough to beat EIU 4/5. NW is not turning the ball over, and they are forcing EIU to drive the field, using the tactic that EIU wants to use back on them.
Your post said that Manning needs to watch Iowa/Northwestern games to figure out how to beat Iowa’s defense. NW’s offense has been dreadful against Iowa - over the last 3 games, they have averaged 3.5, 3.0 and 4.0 yards per play and have turned the ball over 6 times.
They have had success against Iowa because their defense has been excellent. Their offense has done virtually nothing but drain clock.
This is exactly what Fitz does. He's one of the few who are content taking what the Iowa D gives from start to finish, doesn't get greedy, doesn't make mistakes, just patiently takes those underneath crossing routes... All. Game. Long.
They don't force the ball, and do not turn it over. So EIU is not getting easy scoring chances, this is not some national super secret idea. EIU struggles against teams that are undisciplined, that is how they continue to beat SEC teams in Bowl games. They are out talented, but they win, because they allow the other team to hurt themselves.
Look at the 3rd quarter in this years game, ISU held EIU to -10 yards of offense, it was a ELITE quarter of defense, and still gave up 10 points. 7 on a scoop and score and another 3 when the EIU offense was set up deep in ISU territory. NW does not make those mistakes and continues to beat EIU, ISU does and continues to get beat.
Go over to your board and count the number of CLOWN comments instead of clones and LAMES instead of AMES.