Attacking the 3-4

[HawkNole09]

Can we get a list together so I can get this on Brian’s desk early Mon morning?

* Run at their unblocked DE with Sargent - IKM. Either duck inside, or beat the end to the edge, doubling that OLBand creating some traffic.

* Trips right to the wide side, splitting out Fant on their young corner.

* Intermediate “echo” routes, following Fant. Utilizing the middle of the field.

* Gently rolling the pocket to throw off the blitz angles, getting Fant and Hockenson on the hashes and then springing ISM or BS deep.

 

[hawkandroll]

Brady Ross should be good for a couple fake ISO FB dives at 7-8 yards a pop.

 

[iowa surfer]

Can we get a list together so I can get this on Brian’s desk early Mon morning?

* Run at their unblocked DE with Sargent - IKM. Either duck inside, or beat the end to the edge, doubling that OLBand creating some traffic.

* Trips right to the wide side, splitting out Fant on their young corner.

* Intermediate “echo” routes, following Fant. Utilizing the middle of the field.

* Gently rolling the pocket to throw off the blitz angles, getting Fant and Hockenson on the hashes and then springing ISM or BS deep.

HC has much bigger desk.Yup!

 

[scotthawk1964]

Brian said last season that he learned some things from playing Wisconsin and Nebraska with there 3-4's. You know the coaching staff is going to take that along with the BYU tape and pick it apart. There is no way were not ready to play saturday after last year, reminds me of the Penn State pasting, then the rematch last season in Kinnick. Hawks will be ready.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Yeah, kick them in the balls as hard as we can and then run past them while they are recovering. Easy.

 

[dbrocket]

It really depends on how well our interior guys can handle their NT. In theory, they should be weakest straight up the middle, but if their NT is better than our interior guys, we're back to running off-tackle and hoping we can prevent them from slashing in and disrupting everything.

 

[ConvenientParking]

They should let the DL get like 6 sacks and bottle up the rushing attack. Low scoring affair in Kinnick next weekend. 20-13 good guys.

 

[Wadzinator]

Listened to game on badger network those guys said byu out physicaled wisky up front
Wisconsin got outplayed up front same result this sat iowa wins

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Stretch play to the weak side of the field 3-4 times in a row multiple times during the game.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

Can we get a list together so I can get this on Brian’s desk early Mon morning?

* Run at their unblocked DE with Sargent - IKM. Either duck inside, or beat the end to the edge, doubling that OLBand creating some traffic.

* Trips right to the wide side, splitting out Fant on their young corner.

* Intermediate “echo” routes, following Fant. Utilizing the middle of the field.

* Gently rolling the pocket to throw off the blitz angles, getting Fant and Hockenson on the hashes and then springing ISM or BS deep.

Brian knows more than you.

 

[BigDelHawk]

Listened to game on badger network those guys said byu out physicaled wisky up front
Wisconsin got outplayed up front same result this sat iowa wins

Cooler weather is easier on the big guys. When you are in excess of 300LBS 100 degree heat wipes you out. That hurt Wisconsin.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

BYU was jet screening Wisconsin to death. We should try that.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Constraint plays to keep their D honest will be key. They played very aggressive against us last year. We need to run plays to punish them for aggression. Screens, quick slants, etc. Also, need to figure out how the O-line deals with their well-disguised and varied pass rush. Our O-line was baffled by not knowing who was coming on any given play. I'm hoping additional experience for our tackles will help them cope this year.

Also, break tendencies. They crashed the gaps with their linebackers when they expected run. I'd think they'd be vulnerable to RPO's and packaged plays if they're reading the O-line.

 

[anon_8rcdnbko1jbe0]

Yeah, kick them in the balls as hard as we can and then run past them while they are recovering. Easy.

Here we go..

 

[wyldhawk9]

For an in-depth read, take a look here: http://bisonmedia.areavoices.com/a-manifesto-on-attacking-the-3-4/
I thought this bit at the end was interesting:

"...you must be careful not to try and practice or call too much as this defense at the very least forces you to make minor changes and sometimes drastic changes to your blocking rules/schemes in both the run and in your pass protection game. From week to week, when facing four down linemen defenses, you may make some minor adjustments, but for the most part there is great carry over from week to week.

All of the sudden you flip on the tape on a Sunday and you’re playing against a 3-4 and even though you run the same runs and protections you have to change and tweak so many things that your players, as well as coaches, can get mentally overloaded. This can cause great consternation among both players and coaches as you can imagine."​

 

[hawkster03]

It really depends on how well our interior guys can handle their NT. In theory, they should be weakest straight up the middle, but if their NT is better than our interior guys, we're back to running off-tackle and hoping we can prevent them from slashing in and disrupting everything.

Those big boys were getting worn out against BYU. We can break them.

 

[hawkster03]

BYU was jet screening Wisconsin to death. We should try that.

First thing I noticed as well. They ran multiple plays off of it. It's obviously a big part of their offense.

The problem is, it's not a big part of ours. We have ran it but very little. I'd be shocked if we change much but I do expect to see it at least once.

 

[Chalkdaddy94]

BYU was jet screening Wisconsin to death. We should try that.

I'm hoping we run a couple of jet sweeps with Groeneweg. We ran one against UNI and it worked well. I'm sure the coaches will watch the BYU tape and try to replicate those jet sweeps, Wisconsin was completely caught off guard by them.

I'm expecting a creative offensive game plan. Hopefully it will look just like Ohio State game last year!

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

For all those mentioning jet sweeps, you do remember how well we run them right? Putting it in the nicest light possible... we’ve struggled greatly with them.

 

[Chalkdaddy94]

For all those mentioning jet sweeps, you do remember how well we run them right? Putting it in the nicest light possible... we’ve struggled greatly with them.

Groeneweg looked good running his. ISM and previously Parker (#10) have had a rough time in the past that's true. Nothing some practice can't fix.

 

[NorthDSMHawk]

Groeneweg looked good running his. ISM and previously Parker (#10) have had a rough time in the past that's true. Nothing some practice can't fix.

I mean, how much stock are we going to put into the one time it worked against an FCS team who's defense was hemorrhaging yards?

It's possible Groeneweg is the elixir to our jet sweep problems, but I think it's pretty unlikely.

 

[HawkAssassin]

It's interesting looking at their sack numbers compared to last year.

2017
First 3 games - 8 sacks in 3 games (2.67 avg)
Entire season - 42 sacks in 14 games (3 avg)

Their sack numbers were pretty consistent throughout last year and they got 4 against us.

2018
First 3 games - 3 sacks in 3 games (1 avg)

A lot of their sacks will come from an unidentified 4th rusher. For some reason that player hasn't gotten as many shots at the QB. This could be for a few reasons.

1) The defensive line isn't occupying as many blockers and the linebacker blitzes are getting picked up.
2) Opponents have found a subtle trick to identify the 4th rusher.
3) QB's are getting rid of the ball quickly.

 

[jwardelt]

It's interesting looking at their sack numbers compared to last year.

2017
First 3 games - 8 sacks in 3 games (2.67 avg)
Entire season - 42 sacks in 14 games (3 avg)

Their sack numbers were pretty consistent throughout last year and they got 4 against us.

2018
First 3 games - 3 sacks in 3 games (1 avg)

A lot of their sacks will come from an unidentified 4th rusher. For some reason that player hasn't gotten as many shots at the QB. This could be for a few reasons.

1) The defensive line isn't occupying as many blockers and the linebacker blitzes are getting picked up.
2) Opponents have found a subtle trick to identify the 4th rusher.
3) QB's are getting rid of the ball quickly.

Our defense isn't nearly as good as last year. That is the main reason. Lots of young guys and not nearly as many play makers. Van Ginkel should be "that' guy but he's hurt now.

 

[hexumhawk]

Running in the middle gaps and rolling a pocket...even slightly is a big deal in passing angles. Also, wont hurt to get a couple deep balls as well.

 

[Harbinger273]

Need to mix it up as said. Keep them off balance and run straight at them. Van Ginkel doesn't make an entire defense but he's questionable for the game. DL Lowdermilk still has the shoulder wrap on. This is the year to pull out the game plan and put the screws to them. Getting the pass game going vs. UNI was good but has to continue against the badgers. Easley and Fant will be the focal point with others mixed in.

 

[bucky44]

The starting DEs for UW last year were Conor Sheehy and Alec James. Both of those guys graduated. The second string DEs were Chikwe Obasih and Isaiahh Loudermilk. Obasih graduated, while Loudermilk is just back from knee surgery. The third string DEs were Garrett Rand and Billy Hirschfeld. Rand tore his achilles over the summer and Hirschfeld quit football to pursue a career in journalism.

Basically UW only has one of their top 6 DEs from last year, and that one is still getting back into shape from surgery. The DE rotation currently consists of Loudermilk, a walk-on redshirt freshman in Matt Henningsen, and a redshirt freshman that was on the offensive line until fall camp in Kayden Lyles. Both Henningsen and Lyles need more seasoning in the weight room and on the field before they can be consistent run stuffers.

UW also graduated two starting OLBs from last year, both guys who were very good setting the edge. Things are not looking promising for Van Ginkel, one of the starters, to play this week. There will be lots of inexperience at OLB as well this weekend.

tl;dr, if Brian Ferentz can't get some resemblance of a running game going against this defensive front, he should be fired. I suspect Jim Leonhard will sell out against the run and put his trust in the redshirt freshman corners to lockdown Iowa's WR

 

[Pepperman]

I'm expecting a creative offensive game plan. Hopefully it will look just like Ohio State game last year!

I see the smiley face and I get where you're coming from. I see several posts with similar ideas about how we really need that offense that throttled OSU to make an appearance during 2018, and how in particular we need Nate Stanley too look more and more like he did against OSU.

Here's the thing - our offense looked great against OSU because they decided to play "straight up" defense. That was incredibly stupid of them. Every other team knows you have to pressure the Iowa offense by stacking the box and blitzing, whether it is a downhill run blitz or a pass blitz. OSU did not do this, and it gave Iowa time to pick them apart in the passing game.

 

[wyldhawk9]

The starting DEs for UW last year were Conor Sheehy and Alec James. Both of those guys graduated. The second string DEs were Chikwe Obasih and Isaiahh Loudermilk. Obasih graduated, while Loudermilk is just back from knee surgery. The third string DEs were Garrett Rand and Billy Hirschfeld. Rand tore his achilles over the summer and Hirschfeld quit football to pursue a career in journalism.

Basically UW only has one of their top 6 DEs from last year, and that one is still getting back into shape from surgery. The DE rotation currently consists of Loudermilk, a walk-on redshirt freshman in Matt Henningsen, and a redshirt freshman that was on the offensive line until fall camp in Kayden Lyles. Both Henningsen and Lyles need more seasoning in the weight room and on the field before they can be consistent run stuffers.

UW also graduated two starting OLBs from last year, both guys who were very good setting the edge. Things are not looking promising for Van Ginkel, one of the starters, to play this week. There will be lots of inexperience at OLB as well this weekend.

tl;dr, if Brian Ferentz can't get some resemblance of a running game going against this defensive front, he should be fired. I suspect Jim Leonhard will sell out against the run and put his trust in the redshirt freshman corners to lockdown Iowa's WR

This is awesome info - thanks for sharing, Bucky.

 

[Harbinger273]

Byu threw for only 120 yds on Sat. They ran for 190. I think we can throw for more than that and should be able to get to about 140 rushing. This would be a strong and.winning output imo.

 

[HawkTex]

Brian knows more than you.

He knew very little last year at Madison.

 

[theiacowtipper]

I see the smiley face and I get where you're coming from. I see several posts with similar ideas about how we really need that offense that throttled OSU to make an appearance during 2018, and how in particular we need Nate Stanley too look more and more like he did against OSU.

Here's the thing - our offense looked great against OSU because they decided to play "straight up" defense. That was incredibly stupid of them. Every other team knows you have to pressure the Iowa offense by stacking the box and blitzing, whether it is a downhill run blitz or a pass blitz. OSU did not do this, and it gave Iowa time to pick them apart in the passing game.

I don’t know the numbers but OSU blitzed plenty. Iowa just beat it.

 

[Harbinger273]

 

[HawkeyeLaker]

For all those mentioning jet sweeps, you do remember how well we run them right? Putting it in the nicest light possible... we’ve struggled greatly with them.

I remember Paul Chaney running into the offensive huddle and the vast majority of the time, we would run a fake jet sweep to him. Does he have any eligibility remaining?