Iowa's perimeter D

[CyCloned]

ISU will test the edge with bubble screen rather than sweeps. Iowa's defense is usually very disciplined, and is rarely out of position. They also tend to stick with their 3 LBers when they should not. Beating Iowa's LBers in pass coverage has been a windfall for ISU over the last few years. This may be the year they get smarter about it.

 

[Deno]

This year the linebackers are not the same as last year. There is a lot more speed. Bower got beat out, Alston graduated, Spearman transferred. Don't count on these guys being out of position.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Last season, Minnesota, Maryland, Iowa State (Richardson to an extent) and Tennessee exposed Iowa's lack of speed on the outside. Minnesota especially killed them with jet sweeps and pitches.

Is Iowa State equipped to do that this season? We haven't seen many jet sweeps out of Mangino, and when we do, the timing is horrific. I would love to see us execute it with Daley, Wesley or even Bundrage.

Of course, accurate passes from Richardson on bubble screens are huge.

I guess what I'm asking is does Iowa still lack speed on the outside, or do they have any new players that are capable of cleaning that up? Because they were awful at times last season.

Too soon to say (and I'm an Iowa fan). Roberson (the QB) and the RB Coprich are Power 5 school conference caliber players, and Iowa did a good job of keeping them contained. But Illinois State's O-line was just so bad it's hard to say whether or not Iowa "fixed" the problem of just overmatched an o-line.

Iowa has new starters at the 3 LB positions and a new safety (Taylor for Lowdermilk). The eye test tells me each of the new guys runs better than the predecessors, but again it's just one game. If Richardson doesn't turn the ball over, I would expect ISU will move the ball quite well.

 

[thawks]

Nieman (#44) is a first year starter- true Soph. He is bigger, quicker and a much better athlete than anyone who played last year. Jewel moved from outside to middle backer where he is much better suited. The 3rd lb is the weak spot- either Fisher or whoever.

I expect ISU to attack the LBs. I also expect Iowa to pressure Richardson this year and not sit back and let him get comfortable in the pocket. I also think Iowa will be able to run the ball. If I am ISU I also go after the safeties. Lomax changed safety positions this year. Miles Taylor is a first time starter last week and played some special teams I believe last year. So they are short of XP to say the least. I am sure they will be tested early and often.

 

[rholtgraves]

Nieman (#44) is a first year starter- true Soph. He is bigger, quicker and a much better athlete than anyone who played last year. Jewel moved from outside to middle backer where he is much better suited. The 3rd lb is the weak spot- either Fisher or whoever.

I expect ISU to attack the LBs. I also expect Iowa to pressure Richardson this year and not sit back and let him get comfortable in the pocket. I also think Iowa will be able to run the ball. If I am ISU I also go after the safeties. Lomax changed safety positions this year. Miles Taylor is a first time starter last week and played some special teams I believe last year. So they are short of XP to say the least. I am sure they will be tested early and often.

Lomax didn't change positions

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Nieman (#44) is a first year starter- true Soph. He is bigger, quicker and a much better athlete than anyone who played last year. Jewel moved from outside to middle backer where he is much better suited. The 3rd lb is the weak spot- either Fisher or whoever.

I expect ISU to attack the LBs. I also expect Iowa to pressure Richardson this year and not sit back and let him get comfortable in the pocket. I also think Iowa will be able to run the ball. If I am ISU I also go after the safeties. Lomax changed safety positions this year. Miles Taylor is a first time starter last week and played some special teams I believe last year. So they are short of XP to say the least. I am sure they will be tested early and often.

Curious to see how much blitzing Iowa will actually do against the pass. If they keep their Lb's on the field to cover the flats, could be a dangerous strategy.

 

[BACyclone]

Historically, ISU has been pretty good at picking up the blitzes. The only issue is if Richardson can quickly identify the hot route in that situation before the pressure finally overcomes the blockers. He either has to identify the open guy, get outta there, or throw the ball OB.

 

[khawk4]

Historically, ISU has been pretty good at picking up the blitzes. The only issue is if Richardson can quickly identify the hot route in that situation before the pressure finally overcomes the blockers. He either has to identify the open guy, get outta there, or throw the ball OB.

Good call, and I think that is probably the key to the game. If Iowa can get front 4 pressure, which is what they really, really want to do, and keep Richardson off balance, it will throw off the passing game. If Iowa has to commit LBs, and DBs to get pressure, and Richardson can stay clean, he can shred us.

 

[Clark]

Curious to see how much blitzing Iowa will actually do against the pass. If they keep their Lb's on the field to cover the flats, could be a dangerous strategy.

Historically, ISU has been pretty good at picking up the blitzes. The only issue is if Richardson can quickly identify the hot route in that situation before the pressure finally overcomes the blockers. He either has to identify the open guy, get outta there, or throw the ball OB.

this is why I don't think you'll see a ton of blitzes. There will be some, especially on third and long but I wouldn't expect it to be a staple of the Iowa defense this weekend.

 

[bosco]

Historically, ISU has been pretty good at picking up the blitzes. The only issue is if Richardson can quickly identify the hot route in that situation before the pressure finally overcomes the blockers. He either has to identify the open guy, get outta there, or throw the ball OB.

From what I've seen ISU's ability against the blitz during the Mess and Herman years is hit or miss at best.

 

[tazclone]

So, essentially you are saying players cant improve from year to year, mentall and physically? Wow

You know who was originally really bad at edge contain? Kirksey, Morris and Hitchens. They are all now with NFL teams

Or he is saying that we have improved. So if both squads improve then it is status quo.

 

[tazclone]

Too soon to say (and I'm an Iowa fan). Roberson (the QB) and the RB Coprich are Power 5 school conference caliber players, and Iowa did a good job of keeping them contained. But Illinois State's O-line was just so bad it's hard to say whether or not Iowa "fixed" the problem of just overmatched an o-line.

Iowa has new starters at the 3 LB positions and a new safety (Taylor for Lowdermilk). The eye test tells me each of the new guys runs better than the predecessors, but again it's just one game. If Richardson doesn't turn the ball over, I would expect ISU will move the ball quite well.

Doubt Roberson and Coprich see the success this year that they had last year. they simply don't have the OL in front of them.

 

[khawk4]

Curious to see how much blitzing Iowa will actually do against the pass. If they keep their Lb's on the field to cover the flats, could be a dangerous strategy.

Yeah, it will be interesting to see. Iowa has gotten much, much more creative with their D over the last few years. They mix and matched their D line looks a lot. They have been doing stand up techniques, different stunts, running more nickle, and bringing a LB down as an extra DE. Having said that, they arent all world at it, however, it has been more successful against the modern day offense that includes multiple WR looks, and lots of shallow crossings.

 

[Gonzo]

This is where we will dominate. Their LBs are great at plugging holes, not chasing 200 lb receivers, or runningbacks for that matter. Look for lots of 1-step drops that get the balls to our WRs in space.

Actually our LBs aren't great at plugging holes, they're pretty undersized. The up side is, they're not super fast. We'll need our DL to do its job of keeping OL off the LBs for them to be effective. Worked against Ill. St. Not sure it'll work against better teams.

 

[khawk4]

Or he is saying that we have improved. So if both squads improve then it is status quo.

but then like most hoks, you imply that only iowa can improve. It is like the idotic hok thought that iowa is the only team that improves as the season goes on.

iowa's great "we get better as the season goes on" excuse....
2014-lose four of their last five
2013- lost 2 of their last five. Wins over crappy Purdie/michigan teams
2012-lost six straight to finish the season
2011-lost four of their last six
2010-lost three of their last five including a loss to NW and a 3-9 Minny team
2009-won three of their last five with two coming against bad Indiana and Minny. The 12-0 win over Minny was dominating
2008-Wow....they actually finished strong
2007-lost two out of lastr five but did manage to beat NW and Minny...
2006-lost their last four games, lost their last 6 out of 7
2005- lost three out of their last five including a loss to powerhouse Minny.


Yep....myth debunked

How in the hell did you take that away from what I posted?! He said that since it was the same personel from last year, it doenst worry him. My point was that teams, and players, improve from year to year. And just because a player may have been poor one year at something, doesnt mean he will automatically suck at it the next year too. That includes ISU players. Sheesh, quit looking for a fight.

 

[Clark]

Or he is saying that we have improved. So if both squads improve then it is status quo.

but then like most hoks, you imply that only iowa can improve. It is like the idotic hok thought that iowa is the only team that improves as the season goes on.

iowa's great "we get better as the season goes on" excuse....
2014-lose four of their last five
2013- lost 2 of their last five. Wins over crappy Purdie/michigan teams
2012-lost six straight to finish the season
2011-lost four of their last six
2010-lost three of their last five including a loss to NW and a 3-9 Minny team
2009-won three of their last five with two coming against bad Indiana and Minny. The 12-0 win over Minny was dominating
2008-Wow....they actually finished strong
2007-lost two out of lastr five but did manage to beat NW and Minny...
2006-lost their last four games, lost their last 6 out of 7
2005- lost three out of their last five including a loss to powerhouse Minny.


Yep....myth debunked

what in the heck is this hot garbage? You somehow managed to get two strawman arguments into the same nonsensical point.

A) Nobody is arguing ISU isn't improved
B) Nobody said anything about anyone improving as the year goes on

 

[Doc]

Actually our LBs aren't great at plugging holes, they're pretty undersized. The up side is, they're not super fast. We'll need our DL to do its job of keeping OL off the LBs for them to be effective. Worked against Ill. St. Not sure it'll work against better teams.

That sounds kind of like ISU's LBs. Undersized, by they make up for it by not being super fast.

 

[khawk4]

Or he is saying that we have improved. So if both squads improve then it is status quo.

Also, if thats what he meant, than he should have said it. But thats not what he said.

 

[tazclone]

How in the hell did you take that away from what I posted?! He said that since it was the same personel from last year, it doenst worry him. My point was that teams, and players, improve from year to year. And just because a player may have been poor one year at something, doesnt mean he will automatically suck at it the next year too. That includes ISU players. Sheesh, quit looking for a fight.

I deleted it. sorry you saw it before I deleted

 

[thawks]

Lomax didn't change positions

He changed safety positions- he is playing were Lodermilk played last year.