re: Iowa vs LSU breakdown

Last year we did get a delay of game penalty in a hurry up offense trying to come back against Northwestern in the fourth quarter (some evidence of why we ended up 4-8).

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So Iowa is basically a run it down your throat offense with a couple passes thrown in?

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Basically...


...when we're not going five-wide.

We're always going to attempt to be balanced. A lot of time the other team will load the box, and we'll keep running in to it. I suspect to set something up. Against Nebraska we did precisely this in the fourth quarter. I knew they were setting up either a roll out and throw to a TE, or misdirection bootleg. It was the latter. No one home for Nebby.

It infuriates most Iowa fans because they think we're running it in to a stacked box just to keep doing it, and even to me it seems like that is exactly what they're doing, until whammo, no one home on a roll out, or bootleg.

How we have evolved on offense is that we actually have very different offensive set ups depending on opponent. Against tOSU, we must have known we could throw to their weak secondary, and we came out with a 3 TE set, and threw. Threw successfully. I went to the Purdue game at that hell hole, and we ran. Set up run, and their LB's cheated to our strong side of the OL, the left side. We were rushing for over 5 yards a touch, and yet we came out in the second half and worked the side they were cheating to. Ran and threw to the right side. After a series or two, unsuccessful, we then went full bore in to the side they were cheating away from. even pulled a guard. Whammo. No one home.

Another poster gives a very accurate description on how we have evolved from a defensive perspective.

Against LSU we likely try to get TE/LB mismatches. We likely run. We might try some trickeration to loosen up the box.

It doesn't matter the difference in talent level, Ferentz, for all of his other flaws real or imagined, will have them ready. When and if you win, you will have won, and been in a game.

I spoke of intangibles earlier. this is some of what I was speaking to. On paper I don't see us winning, but the more I think about TE/LB, and possibly wearing your DL down, I do believe we have a fair shot.

1. Turnovers

2. Field Position

3. Special Teams Play


There's the game.

NCAA stats


#7 in the nation in total defense.

There are some very interesting comparisons between the two teams statistically.

Damn, top 10, no shite.

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1. Turnovers

2. Field Position

3. Special Teams Play


There's the game.

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I might add quality of players in that mix. I like our ever-so-slight edge there.

Can your corners handle Juice and Odell?

This is the question that bothers a lot of us. If they get in single cover situations, it could be a long game for us.

Really, our D relies on two things: ability to stop the run, and ability to pressure the QB. That's it. I am confident in the first, less confident, with a mobile QB, about the second.

On offense, we will spend much of the 1st quarter trying to establish the run, with the exception of obvious passing misdirection plays (pass to fullback, throwback TE screen pass, RB screen pass), with a slant or two thrown in, or maybe a WR screen at the LOS. We won't throw downfield unless we have to.

There's the key: when we HAVE a passing mismatch sort of play, a lot of us do not have confidence that we will hit on it. Something always seems to go wrong--the pass sails, or is dropped, or the WR falls down. That's why the run must be established early for us to win, because then it opens up make-able pass plays.

I still stand by the statement that our run D can and likely will do well for the bulk of the game. But our passing D--unless we pressure your QB the way we pressured Nebraska's--is very vulnerable.

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Enough about Iowa. Lets hear about LSU. Talk to me when I'm listening to you.

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We will run the ball down your throats...you may be on the way back but even without Mett, I dont seeing yall putting up much of a fight